We prepared virgin (

) and calcined lignin at 200–1000 °C (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000) and evaluated their adsorption capability for zinc ions from the water phase. The properties (morphology, specific surface area, pore volume, mean pore diameter, and functional groups) of adsorbents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, specific surface area analysis, and FT-IR analysis. The specific surface area and pore volume of 800 was greater than those of the other adsorbents. In addition, -OH and -COOH groups were detected on , 200, and 400, but those functional groups were not confirmed by calcination treatment over 600 °C. Amount of zinc ions adsorbed on 800 was greater than that on other adsorbents. We also evaluated the adsorption mechanism of zinc ions with adsorbents. The result showed that the amount of zinc ions adsorbed was related to ion-exchange with proton (correlation coefficient: 0.817) or physical property (mesopore volume; correlation coefficient: 0.867) for , 200, and 400 or 600, 800, and 1000, respectively. These results indicate that the adsorption mechanism is changed with calcination treatment. Moreover, we elucidated the effect of temperature on the adsorption of zinc ions, and evaluated the adsorbent surface before and after zinc ion adsorption. We confirmed the zinc existed on the adsorbent surface after adsorption. Finally, as per the thermodynamic parameters, the negative value of ΔG indicates the spontaneous nature and feasibility of the zinc ion adsorption. These findings provide significant information that can be useful for removal of zinc ions from aqueous solution.

抄録全体を表示

Lignosulfonic acids are widely recognized as strongly electrolytic and sparingly decomposable polymers. Lignin-partially hydrolyzed methylacrylate graft copolymers (-MA-Hyd) were synthesized as agricultural and gardening super water-absorbents from sodium lignosulfonates () with different purities prepared from the sulfite pulping waste liquor. These lignin graft copolymers have been expected to have little effects of ions and pH on the absorbencies. Waste paper pulps (WP) and cellulose samples (Cell) grafted with partially hydrolyzed acrylamide (WP-AM-Hyd and Cell-AM-Hyd) and 2 (dimethylamino)-ethylmetacrylate (WP-DM and Cell-DM) were synthesized, too. The water absorbency and the water-holding capacity of -MA-Hyd were compared with those of a commercial agricultural and gardening super water-absorbent [poly (vinyl alcohol)-maleic acid ester copolymer (PVA-Ma)] and the above mentioned WP and Cell graft copolymers (WP-AM-Hyd etc). The water absorbency of -MA-Hyd was greater than those of WP and Cell graft copolymers and the commercial agricultural super water-absorbent (PVA-Ma), whereas the water-holding capacity of -MA-Hyd was almost the same as that of the commercial PVA-Ma. The little effect of the degree of grafting on the water absorbency of -MA-Hyd was observed in the range from 100% to 300%. The water absorbencies of both -MA-Hyd and PVA-Ma were influenced by pH in the same way. The optimum ratio of N, N-methylenebisacrylamide as a bridging agent was 1.0-1.3% for the graft copolymerization. The water absorbency of -MA-Hyd was dependent on the content of sulfonic acid groups of lignin in -MA-Hyd.

抄録全体を表示

  Antithrombotic therapy has become an important goal for the treatment of ischemic disorders such as cerebral ischemia. Our recent studies found that Z-ligustilide (), a characterized 3-n-alkylphthalide constituent of Radix Angelica sinensis essential oil, exerted significant neuroprotection against cerebral ischemic damage in several animal models. The present study evaluated the antithrombotic activity of and its effect on platelet aggregation and coagulation time. (10 or 40 mg/kg) was intragastrically administered to rats once daily for 3 days. Our results showed that significantly and dose-dependently reduced arterial thrombus weight in an arteriovenous shunt thrombosis in rats and platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate in rats ex vivo. Meanwhile, at 10 or 40 mg/kg had no significant effect on coagulation time, including activated partial thromboplastin time and prothrombin time, in rats ex vivo. The present study demonstrated for the first time that may exert efficient antithrombotic activity through inhibition of platelet aggregation, without effecting coagulation time of peripheral blood. These data, together with the previously reported neuroprotective effects of on cerebral ischemia, suggest that the antithrombotic activity of may contribute to its potential for the treatment of ischemic diseases, including ischemic stroke.

抄録全体を表示

The present study investigated the effect of Z-Ligustilide (), a characterized 3-n-alkyphthalide derivative existed in many medical Umbelliferae plants, on permanent focal ischemic brain injury in rats. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by the occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA) for 24 h. (20, or 80 mg/kg), orally administered at 2 h after ischemia, reduced the cerebral infarct volumes by 48.29% and 84.87% respectively compared to control group as visualized by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining (p<0.01). Treatment with could dose-dependently reduce brain swelling by 68.62% and 82.08% (p<0.01), and significantly improve behavioral deficits (p<0.01). In addition, at the above used doses had no significant effect on rat body temperature. These data, along with previous findings in our lab demonstrating the neuroprotective effects of in transient cerebral ischemia, suggest that may be a potential neuroprotective agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke in future.

抄録全体を表示

This paper describes a pressure sensor using laser-induced graphene (

) strain gauges. The proposed sensor consists of strain gauges on the front and back surfaces, respectively. When a pressure is applied to the sensor, the polyimide film is deformed so that the resistance of the strain gauges located on both sides’ changes. There are two types of resistance changes that occur when pressure is applied. One is due to the elongation of the polyimide and the other is the stretching of the surface when it is deformed. By placing them on both sides, it is possible to perform a sensor that can distinguish between positive and negative pressure. The proposed sensor was fabricated by combining two types of lasers. The manufacturing process is simple and reproducible. As a result, it was possible to measure both positive and negative pressure.

抄録全体を表示

This paper describes a biaxial tactile sensor using standing laser-induced graphene (

) cantilevers. The proposed sensor has standing cantilevers as a sensing element in an elastic body. When the force is applied to the sensor, the cantilevers deform and the resistance of the on the cantilever surface is changed. Since the cantilever shows different resistance changes depending on the direction of deformation, the biaxial force can be measured independently. The proposed sensing element was formed by properly irradiating two types of laser. In addition, the cantilevers were formed on a flexible polyimide (PI) film; thus, the cantilevers maintained the standing position by thermoplastic deformation. These fabrication processes were simple and highly repeatable. As a result, the fabricated biaxial tactile sensor measured normal and shear force with high independence.

抄録全体を表示

One cause of shoulder joint pain is friction of the rotator cuff between the coracoacromial ligament (C-A . ) and the greater tuberosity of the humerus. In those cases, most surgeons release the C-A . by an open operative procedure. Scars of the shoulder area, however, cause anxiety for females and early rehabilitation is restricted by surgical invasion.
If the C-A ., however, could be safely incised under endoscopic vision, a wide skin incision would not be necessary. Recently, we developed a new operative procedure for subcutaneous C-A . release under the Universal Subcutaneous Endoscope (USE). Twentynine patients (23 females and 6 males), or forty-one shoulders, underwent subcutaneous release of the C-A . at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center. The age of the patients ranged from nineteen to sixty-nine years (mean 51.9 years).
The operation is carried out under a local anesth e sia using ten milliliters one percent lidocaine solution, which is applied to the anterior part of the shoulder joint. The USE is then gently inserted between the C-A . and the rotator cuff. We observe the C-A . and rotator cuff. A retrograde hook knife is introduced along the side of the scope from the previously made skin incision. The C-A . is released under complete endoscopic vision. The skin incision is closed with a single stich which completes the operation.
The following day, patients are encouraged to perform gentle active range of motion exercises. Almost all patients reported the disappearance of the spontaneous pain at the shoulder joint and an increased range of shoulder joint motion due to the disappearance of the pain on motion. All of the patients were satisfied with the results of the operation.

抄録全体を表示

-8, a lignophenol derivative from bamboo lignin, potently suppresses oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Here, we first examined in vitro whether -8 protects against neuronal damage induced by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by reoxygenation, tunicamycin [endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress inducer], or PSI (proteasome inhibitor). In pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell cultures, -8 (1 to 30 μM) concentration-dependently inhibited OGD- and tunicamycin (2 μg/ml)-induced cell deaths (significant at ≥3 μM and ≥1 μM, respectively). In human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell culture, the PSI-induced apoptotic cell death and fusion protein accumulation (revealing reduced proteasome activity) was inhibited by -8 (30 μM). On the other hand, -8 at 30 μM alone did not affect any proteasome activity under resting conditions. In vivo, -8 (0.1 nmol/eye) reduced intravitreal N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 20 nmol)-induced retinal damage (decreases in retinal ganglion cells and inner plexiform layer thickness). Hence, -8 protects, partly by inhibiting excessive ER-stress, against neuronal damage in vitro and in vivo.

抄録全体を表示

The coracohumeral ligament (C-H .) is a kind of capsular ligament that originates from the lateral base of the coracoid process, separates anteriorly and posteriorly, and inserts into the greater and lesser tuberosities. This ligament restrains the external rotation and the abduction of the shoulder joint.
The rotator interal (RI) is the space between the superior border of the subscapularis and the adjacent supraspinatus tendon. It is formed by thin, elastic, and membranous tissues.
We have studied the pathogenesis of the contracted shoulder by the autopsy. We have recognized that the degeneration of the C-H . and the RI is the main pathology of the contracted shoulder as Ozaki described.
We operated on 4 cases of the idiopathic contracted shoulder by resecting the C-H . and the scar tissue of the RI. All of them have got good functional results.

抄録全体を表示

胚軸からの不定根形成を指標形質として単離したシロイヌナズナの温度感受性突然変異体lignescens（）は、制限温度下でリグニンの異常蓄積を示す点に特徴がある。本研究ではリグニン合成制御機構解明のため変異体の解析を行った。変異体は許容温度の18℃では正常に生育するが、制限温度の28℃では根の成長が著しく抑制された。リグニン定量の結果、28℃処理後2日目からリグニンの増加が示され、リグニン染色により根端付近でグアヤシルリグニンの異常蓄積が認められた。さらに、変異体におけるリグニン異常蓄積の分子機構に関する知見を得るため、リグニン合成関連遺伝子としてフェニルアラニンアンモニアリアーゼをコードするAtPAL1、シンナミルアルコールデヒドロゲナーゼをコードするAtCAD-D、シンナモイルCoAリダクターゼをコードするAtCCR1とAtCCR2、及び数種のR2R3-MYB等の発現解析を行った。変異体を28℃で処理すると、AtPAL1、AtCAD-D、AtCCR2の発現が増加した。また、エチレン合成阻害剤のAVGで処理することにより変異体における28℃でのリグニンの異常蓄積が抑制された。一方、染色体マッピングと塩基配列解析により、変異体が未報告のセリン/スレオニンプロテインキナーゼ遺伝子にミスセンス突然変異をもつことが見いだされた。これらの結果から、リグニン合成制御における遺伝子の役割について考察する。

抄録全体を表示

This paper reports on the characterization in the design of a biaxial tactile sensor using a standing laser-induced graphene (

) cantilever. This study focuses on the standing angle of the polyimide (PI) cantilever resulting from thermal deformation and the consequent resistance change in the strain gauge. The experimental results showed a linear relationship between the angle of the aluminum housing used for thermal deformation and the angle of the cantilever following deformation. Also, the resistance of the strain gauges on the cantilever surface increased due to the standing angle. However, strain gauges were broken when the cantilever angle was more than 80°. Our future work will evaluate the biaxial force response using sensing elements at varying angles.

抄録全体を表示

シロイヌナズナ温度感受性突然変異体lignescens（

lig

）は、制限温度下で成長阻害やリグニン異常蓄積を示す点に特徴がある。本研究では、リグニン合成に関する新規メカニズム解明のため、変異体の解析を行った。変異体は許容温度の18℃では正常に生育するが、制限温度の28℃条件下では根の成長が著しく抑制された。リグニン定量の結果、28℃処理後2日目からリグニン含有量の増加が示されるとともに、フロログルシノール塩酸染色により根端付近でリグニンの異常蓄積が見られた。また、エバンスブルー染色の結果、根端付近の根毛で細胞死が起きていた。一方、リグニン合成阻害剤AIP処理を行うことにより、リグニンの異常蓄積は抑制されたが、成長回復は見られなかった。さらに、リグニン合成関連およびその他の遺伝子としてAtPAL1、AtCAD-D、AtCCR1、AtCCR2、またVSP1、PDF1.2、CESA1、CESA3の発現解析を行ったところ、28℃条件下に置いた変異体ではAtPAL1、AtCAD-D、AtCCR2、PDF1.2の発現が増加した。これらの結果を踏まえ、変異体におけるリグニンの異常蓄積と根の成長阻害機構について考察する。

抄録全体を表示

HP-system, direct plate-making system which is cosisted of the ultra high speed plate of composite type FNH and the automatic processing system FHP, has been developed in 1980. Recentry, in parallel with making great progress in the original making system, users' needs to use the direct plate-making system are notably increasing, such as LASER direct out-put, the proofing system and the electronic full-page make-up system and so on. Based on above mentioned needs, we have improved the HP system in following points, 1) Improvement of the image sharpness, resolution and tone-reproduction, 2) Improvement of the spectral sensitivity suitable to Ar ion laser light, 3) Simplification and stablization of the processing, 4) Development of more compact type processor. Thus, we succeeded in putting this plate system in the markets (1) LASER direct plate-making system and (2) Projection direct plate-making system.

抄録全体を表示

子宮広間膜内で鼠径管に入る少し前の子宮円索の部は50才代で最も太くなり, 以後再び細くなる. 30才代までは索内に膠原線維のますます太いものが現われるが, それ以後は太いものも細くなる. よく見ると, 分娩のときには膠原線維が細くなるが, 索内の全量は年令と分娩とともに増す. また年令と分娩とともに弾性線維の太さ, 数, 迂曲の度とレゾルチンフクシンでの染色性が増す. 平滑筋線維の間にある細網線維は年令と共に減ずる.
索内の平滑筋線維の太さは30才代までは増し, 以後漸減する. 経産者ではやや細い. 索内の平滑筋線維の全量は年令と分娩とともに増し, 50才代で最高に達し, それから漸減する.

抄録全体を表示

　酵母からヒトに至る真核生物では，DNA二重鎖切断は主として非相同末端結合(non-homologous end-joining; NHEJ)と相同組換え(homologous recombination; HR)によって修復される。ところが，ヒト病原性酵母Cryptococcus neoformansでは，NHEJによる遺伝子修復機構により，標的とする遺伝子の相同組換え（遺伝子ターゲッティング）による遺伝子破壊操作が困難であることが問題となっていた。近年，Neurospora crassaにおいてDNA結合反応を触媒するタンパク質（DNAリガーゼ）をコードする遺伝子を破壊することにより，相同組み換え効率が著しく上昇することが報告された。そこで本研究では，C. neoformansのもつ遺伝子ホモログ（）の遺伝子破壊株の作製と相同組換え効率の向上を目的として実験を行った。まず，C. neoformansゲノムデータベースより遺伝子ホモログの塩基配列を抽出した。この配列をもとに構築したプライマーを用いて5端および3端RACEを行い，転写開始点および転写終了点を解析した。続いてRACE解析により決定した遺伝子のcDNA部分配列をもとにPCRプライマーを構築し，cDNAを増幅し，塩基配列を決定した。cDNA配列と染色体DNA配列の比較により，本菌の遺伝子は25個のイントロンを含み1123アミノ酸をコードすることが推定された。続いて，本菌の野生型株B4500（血清型D）およびB4500株由来のウラシル要求性株TAD1を用いて破壊株の作製を行った。遺伝子の上流および下流それぞれ約1kbの領域とnourseothricin（NAT）耐性遺伝子NAT^RをPCRにより結合し，遺伝子銃を用いて形質転換を行った。得られたNAT耐性株の遺伝子型を検定したところ，相同組換え効率はいずれも3％程度であったが，目的の遺伝子型（ΔLig4）をもつものが得られた。得られた破壊株について相同組換え効率，相同組換えに必要な相同領域サイズなどについて報告する予定である。

抄録全体を表示

【はじめに】中性子捕捉療法では、硼素化合物（¹⁰B）を取り込んだ癌細胞に中性子線照射を行うと¹⁰Bの原子核がα粒子とLi原子核に分裂し、そのエネルギーによって癌細胞にDNA二本鎖切断(DSB)を生成することが知られている。しかし、中性子捕捉療法によって癌細胞に生じたDSBにDSB修復経路が関与するか否かについてはまだ明らかになっていない。DSB修復にはHomologous Recombination (HR)修復とNon-homologous end joining (NHEJ)修復の二つの経路が関わっている。今回我々は、NHEJ修復関連遺伝子；DNA ligase IV ()が、中性子捕捉療法によるDSB修復に関与するか否かを調べることを目的とする。【材料・方法】ノックアウトマウスから確立されたMEF細胞-/- (Dr. F.W. Alt; Harvard Medical School, USAより譲渡)と親株細胞を用いる。中性子照射前20時間、細胞に¹⁰B濃度10ppmの硼素化合物を細胞に取り込ませて、あるいは取り込ませずに中性子を照射し、コロニー形成法にて生存率を算出し、親株細胞と-/-細胞の感受性を比べる。さらに中性子線を照射する際に混在するγ線の影響を除くため、¹⁰Bの濃度を変えて親株細胞と-/-細胞に1.5Gy照射し、相対的生存率も求めた。【結果】硼素化合物を細胞に取り込ませた場合、取り込ませない場合ともに-/-細胞は親株細胞よりも感受性が著しく高くなった。また、相対的生存率は-/-細胞と親株細胞の間に差は認められなかった。【結論】中性子捕捉療法によって生じるDNA二本鎖切断(DSB)はDSB修復経路の因子LigIVによって修復されないと考えられる。

抄録全体を表示

70 cases of Lumbar Spinal Canal Stenosis were operated on for past 2 years.
Clinical and roentgenographic investigations were performed about 43 cases of these operative cases and histological examinations of . flavum were performed about 9 cases.
[Results]
1. Most of cases were from 40 to 69 years old. As the operative findings, there were hyperplasia of . flavum at 82%.
2. The measurement of canal to body ratio revealed 1: 4.0 in lumbar stenosis.
3. Histological findings of ligament flavum revealed calcification in 7 cases. Calcification was seen in connective tissue. The elastic fiber obviously revealed degenerative changes.

抄録全体を表示

The guts of Tenebrio Molitor Linnaeus (yellow mealworm) were used as inocula to isolate reducing sugar-producing bacteria during bioconversion of lignocellulose to reducing sugars in this study. Three carbon sources, i.e., carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), filter paper (FP), and lignocellulosic waste (), were specifically selected; and two types of culturing media (M1 and M2) were used. After 6 months of sequential cultivation, lignocellulose (i.e., polysaccharides) degradation of enrichments M1-CMC (47.5%), M1-FP (73.3%), M1- (70.4%), M2-CMC (55.7%), M2-FP (73.1%) and M2- (71.7%) was achieved, respectively, with incubation for 48 h. Furthermore, seven bacterial strains were successfully isolated corresponding to most of the major bands detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis. The maximum reducing sugars yield by the combination of Agromyces sp. C42 and Stenotrophomonas sp. A10b was 56.7 mg -1 of 48 h, which is approximate 2-5 times higher than the original enrichments and individual microbial strains. These findings suggest that bioconversion by microorganisms from mealworm guts has great application potential for lignocellulose hydrolysis.

抄録全体を表示